♦⊱ Chapter 37 - Birth ⊰♦

This chapter is dedicated to haso12123! Happy reading!

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Ruka pov:

I sat with my eyes closed in the tea garden with one hand resting gently on my now round stomach. It was a pleasant day with a warm sun and gentle breeze, making me feel not only content but also a little sleepy.

Months had gone by so quickly and I was already more than eight months into my pregnancy. Walking around was tiring so I often spent my time relaxing in the gardens. Kichiro sama was aware of my tiredness and had been strict on not allowing me to walk around the palace as I used to before. He had two soldiers guarding me at all times and even during the times we sat together having tea or just spending time together. If I wanted to see him, he would come to me instead of having me go to his study or wherever he was and anything I wanted was brought in by the attendants without me having to lift a finger.

His over-protectiveness was just adorable.

As soon as it was known that I was pregnant and Kichiro sama was a little lost on what it all meant, I had asked Kijima san to help. He had brought books to help Kichiro sama understand the process of pregnancy and having children. It was all so new to him and it was actually a little fun teaching him. I still laughed every time I remembered the one night when he had disrobed me and seemed confused by the pregnancy bump instead of my usually flat stomach.

Well, after reading though every page of every book that Kijima had got for him, he became better aware of the situation. He became careful and over-protective of me. The way he held me was gentler than before, his kisses were softer, and every gesture towards me was softer. He made sure that I didn't strain myself with walking around too much or bringing him tea or cooking, he made sure I had extra-nutritious meals, and often touched my growing stomach curiously. There was even one time when he had kneeled in front of me while I sat on the beg and he had exposed my stomach to get a closer look and caress it and try to listen to any sounds from it.

Goodness, he was just so adorable!

"Your Highness," I heard Kijima san speak. I opened my eyes to look at him bowing to me.

"Is there something you need, Kijima san?" I asked, straightening up slightly.

He gave a momentary glance at my stomach before meeting my eyes again. "Your Highness, if it's not too much trouble," he said, "I had a favor to ask of you."

He got down on one knee, his head bowed. His behavior confused me but I nodded, "Of course. What can I do for you?"

"I'm unsure if you have noticed, Your Highness, but all of the villagers of the capital were making preparations for a ritual this morning."

"I heard about that in passing conversations in the palace," I said.

Kijima san's jaw was clenched tightly and his eyes were narrow but distant. He seemed bothered by something and it only increased my curiosity. He said after a moment, "This is the day His Majesty was born."

A smile lit up my face at that. "Really? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The gears in my head were already working out a plan to make this day special for Kichiro sama. However, the distasteful expression on Kijima san's face made my cheeriness falter.

"Kijima san, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Do you remember I told you that His Majesty's parents passed on soon after he was born which made people think of him as a bad omen? It was on this same day many years later that His Majesty killed the others of the royal family and rose to the throne," he said. "People call this day as Black Day and go to the local shrine every year on this day to ward off the evil spirit that was born today. It's just a rumor that was started by someone within the royal family to lower His Majesty's worth and I'm sure that the commoners do not know that this is the day when His Majesty was born...but practices of Black Day are still followed."

My heart skipped a beat and I clenched my fists, frowning. Black Day, Kichiro sama considered an evil spirit, and a ritual to ward off the evil spirit? That was so cruel...

"Does he know?" I questioned softly.

Kijima san met my eyes with a pained expression. "He does, Your Highness, unfortunately. The only reason why he hasn't bothered to stop the ritual is because the people do not know the truth behind it. Just like on the other Black Days, His Majesty has secluded himself in his study today and is not in the best of moods. I...I just want to ask you to do something to help him, Your Highness."

Kichiro sama was so kind...even before he met me, even before he knew what it was to love someone. If he truly was heartless, he would not have hesitated to stop people from performing the ritual on this so called Black Day. He could have punished them for it too but he had let it go in the name of faith and belief.

If only the civilians knew the truth of this day and knew Kichiro sama like I did...

I shook my head with a small smile and met Kijima san's gaze again. "Please don't worry about Kichiro sama, Kijima san. I will take care of making him feel better. I'll make sure that he understands that this day is a very special day, especially for me."

I stood while holding my stomach and Kijima san stood immediately too. He was a little flustered as she stepped up to offer help, "Your Highness, if there's anything that you wish to do, please let me know and I'll get it done. Please, you mustn't strain yourself."

"Don't worry so much, Kijima san, I'm not going to do anything strenuous. I just plan to bake something for him."

"Very well, but I will stop you if I feel that you're overdoing anything," he said sternly.

I laughed with a shake of my head but agreed to his condition. He followed me to the kitchen and I was greeted with deep bows from the chefs and attendants. I held up a hand signaling that they could be at ease. When the head chef looked at me, I said, "I would like to bake a cake for His Majesty, since today is his birthday. I hope that all of you can help me."

"Of course, Your Highness, it would be an honor to help you," she answered with a chaste bow. "What should we do?"

I instructed the chefs on what to do to bake a simple, plain cake. It didn't take more than an hour to bake and I took over when it was time to decorate it with sweet butter cream that I had had another chef prepare while the main cake was being made. Using my skills in decoration, I carefully made the icing in shapes of flowers. When it was done, I instructed one of the attendants to arrange a room close to Kichiro sama's study with the cake, a knife, and my guitar.

Kijima san accompanied me till Kichiro sama's study then left with a bow. I knocked, entering when I heard a stiff word of permission to enter from inside.

"Kichiro sama," I said when I was inside.

"Ruka," he said, standing immediately and walking to me. He held me around the shoulder and I smiled at how his protectiveness had taken over again. "What are you doing, walking around in your condition?"

I didn't answer his question, instead took a hold of his hand that was on my shoulder. I stepped forward and he followed, eyeing me curiously. "Come with me, Kichiro sama, I have a surprise for you."

He followed me silently to the room where the attendants had arranged the cake on a table. Several others who now genuinely respected Kichiro sama were gathered, including Kijima san. I led Kichiro sama to stand in front of the cake and arranged five candles on it. I nodded to Kijima san to light them and when they were lit, I looked at Kichiro sama who was eyeing the cake, the people gathered, and me curiously.

He tensed slightly when I picked up the knife. I smiled though and said, "Kichiro sama, this is how we celebrate birthdays in my time. I had the chefs bake this cake and I decorated it myself...it's a sweet dessert that you have to cut after making a wish and blowing out the candles. We then eat!"

I placed my free hand on his chest, my eyes softening at the warmth that had filled his eyes. "No, close your eyes and make a wish before you blow out the candles."

He did as I instructed and then held my hand after a word of coaxing. We cut the cake together as the others wished Kichiro sama a happy birthday. I held a piece of the cut cake and he took a bite.

"Is it good?" I asked. He nodded and then I held the piece of cake to him, "Now you have to feed me."

I placed a hand over his as I took a bit of the cake and hummed at the savory, sweet taste. I then closed my eyes when Kichiro sama placed a hand on my cheek and leaned down to kiss me sweetly. When we parted with a blush from me thanks to the cheers from our audience, I said, "Happy birthday, Kichiro sama. I love you."

Kijima san and the other attendants were dismissed after getting their share of cake and my ordering one of them to store the cake so we could eat it later. When we were alone, I looked into Kichiro sama's absorbing eyes, smiling at the warmth they had for me. A playful smile made its way onto my face as a thought went through me. I took some of the icing on my finger and smeared it on Kichiro sama's cheeks. He was surprised and confused at my gesture which made me laugh.

"I remember my friends covering my entire face with icing on my birthdays," I said, smiling wide. Kichiro sama's gaze softened at that and he wiped off the icing before running his fingers through my hair.

We then sat down with me leaning against his chest with my eyes closed in content. I smiled when I felt the baby move around and I moved away from him. I partially disrobed and his eyes went to my round stomach.

"Kichiro sama, I want you to see what your son or daughter will look like – well, at least a part of him or her, anyway," I said as I reached for his hand. I placed his hand right next to the tiny footprint on my stomach and his eyes went wide at the sight of it. He didn't react for a moment and just stared at it silently.

I held in a laugh as he moved his hand and touched the imprint with his index finger. The baby pushed harder, making the imprint more visible. Kichiro sama caressed it again, tilting his head sideways, "It's so small..."

This time, I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped. "Of course, it's small. All babies are small."

He touched it for the third time and the baby kicked in response before rolling about. The footprint disappeared but Kichiro sama placed both hands on my stomach to feel the baby's movement. We sat like that for a while, with me enjoying how adorable Kichiro sama was being with his childlike curiosity. I was glad that he was no longer in a bitter mood as he had been for most of the day, the reason of which I had assumed to be because of work until Kijima san had told me.

A few moments after feeling the baby, Kichiro sama moved away from me. He adjusted my kimono dress so I was covered and I then reached for my guitar. We still had a little while before dinner and it was the perfect time to sing a song as a part of the birthday celebration.

"Is there any particular song you want me to play, Kichiro sama? It's your birthday so I think you should choose," I said to him, smiling.

"The one you sang at Kijima's house." his answer was quick and his choice made my smile widen.

I nodded and proceeded with the song. I began the tune and soon sang, though in a softer voice than usual so it was romantic. I gazed at Kichiro sama lovingly when he came to sit next to me, though also slightly behind so I could lean back against his chest while I sang. He caressed my head gently making this moment even more tender than ever.

When the song ended, we listened to the resonance of the last few notes. I then put away my guitar and turned to face Kichiro sama. adoring the tender way he was watching me, I stood on my knees and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, one hand on the back of his head as I held it close to my chest. I kissed the top of his head softly and closed my eyes while resting my cheek on his head. He held me back gently.

"Kichiro sama," I began, "I want to tell you something that my mother always used to tell me on my birthday. They are heartfelt words I truly understand the meaning of now, though I was always happy to hear them from her. I hope that these words make you happy as well. I love you and I always want you to be happy."

He didn't say anything in response to my words. He only held me a little closer while caressing my waist.

"Today, the day that you were born, is a very precious day. You are a gift from God and God wants all of his children to be happy. Thank you for being born. I love you."

It was a few minutes before he let me out of his tight grip which had happened as a reaction to what I had said. When I looked at his fact, my heart skipped a beat – the expression on his face was just like the one he had had on the day he had cried. I didn't want him to feel so upset so I cupped his cheeks gently and rubbed them with my thumbs.

I parted my lips to tell him how happy I was to have met him and fallen on love with him but I was cut short by a sharp pain I felt in my abdomen. I gasped, placing a hand on my stomach and sinking to my knees.

"Ruka, what's wrong?" Kichiro sama asked immediately, worry apparent in his tone.

"I'm fine, I think, just-ah!" I felt the sharp pain again and I grabbed a hold of Kichiro sama's arm tightly.

The doors of the room we were in was slid open thanks to the loudness of my voice and Kyo chan was at my side instantly. She placed a hand on my shoulder and I met her worried gaze, sweat already dripping down the sides of my face.

"K-Kyo chan, I think the b-baby is coming," I wheezed. Her eyes went wide.

"Oh dear," she mumbled before telling Kijima san to call for more maids to help. She then looked at Kichiro sama, "Your Majesty, please lay her down. We're going to help her deliver the baby."

I breathed heavily while letting Kichiro sama lay me down. I then shut my eyes and bit my lip while groaning in pain, preparing myself for the toughest part of pregnancy.

Kichiro sama pov:

I looked over Ruka's sweaty face, my heart pounding in my ears. I had read that delivering a baby was very tough and would cause Ruka pain but she seemed to be in so much pain. I felt so helpless now, unable to do anything to make her pain ease. I placed a hand on her head while she breathed heavily and groaned and whimpered every so often. I could do nothing but glare at the maid as she ordered the other maids who had hurried into the room to get hot water and towels.

"Your Majesty, please step outside while we deliver the baby," she said but flinched when I narrowed my eyes.

"Don't you dare order me-"

"Your Majesty, it would be best for you to step outside. The women will handle delivering the baby safely," Kijima interrupted. I glanced at him momentarily then looked back to Ruka. I hesitated but trusted that Kijima was better aware of this situation, having had three children, so I decided to step out of the room even though I didn't want to.

Ruka spared me a barely visible smile as I let her go. I stepped out of the room and the doors were then shut and locked. I clenched my fists, feeling very uneasy.

"It's alright, Ruka sama. You'll be fine. Just breathe," Ruka's maid said but Ruka's whimpers were getting louder by the minute. The maid then added, "When you feel the pain, you have to push."

It was moments later that Ruka screamed then fell silent to mostly panting. I took a step forward, ready to burst through the door but Kijima stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. "Your Majesty, Her Highness will be fine. Please, you must trust the maids and wait here so they can deliver the baby safely, without any distractions."

His words didn't make me feel any better though. I looked at the door fiercely, unable to get the uneasiness to go away in the slightest. Ruka's whimpers and screams continued for several hours and it was close to midnight when she gave a scream that was ear-piercing. My heart jolted and I felt fear, so much fear for the first time in my life.

What were the maids doing to her?! What if they were hurting her while using the reason of delivering the baby?! How could I have not thought about that before?! If anything happened to Ruka...to my Ruka...no, no! I wouldn't let them hurt her!

I reached for my katana, ready to break down the door and kill the maids before they did anything severe to Ruka. However, I suddenly noticed that I could no longer hear Ruka's voice...no, it was barely audible. Just long heaves, as if she had run for as very long time. What had happened? Had they, had those wenches...no! I felt anger bubbled in the pit of my stomach and I nearly pulled out my katana.

However, I tensed, freezing up and feeling another jolt hit me hard when, from just beyond the doors, I heard the soft wails of a baby.

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OMG! The baby has been born! And, goodness, look at how stressed Kichiro sama was during the whole time XD Isn't he just adorable?!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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